Walker officially kicks off state recall campaign with stop in Green Bay

Governor says he kept promises

Apr. 11, 2012

Written by

Scott Bauer

The Associated Press

Gov. Scott Walker hit the campaign trail to make the case for keeping his job, while Democrats hoping to unseat him in a recall election in two months filed signatures Tuesday to get on the ballot.

With his wife and two teenage sons in tow, Walker told about 50 supporters at Services Plus, a Green Bay business, that the June 5 recall is a test of political courage about which direction the state will go. It was his fifth of six stops Tuesday officially kicking off his recall campaign.

"This election is about the future. We will have probably one of the most dramatic choices we've had in our lifetime," the Republican governor said.

The recall was motivated by anger over changes Walker pushed through the Legislature last year that effectively ended collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

Walker, in joking about how many times he's been to Green Bay in the last year, noted the "failed policies of the past" during his Green Bay stop. He claimed his actions helped balance the budget and improve the business climate.

"I made promises on the campaign trail and we fulfilled every one of those promises," he said.

Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, and four Republican state senators, were targeted for recall. The primary is May 8, with the general election June 5. One of the targeted senators, Pam Galloway of Wausau stepped down but the election is proceeding to fill her seat.

Eight people filed nomination papers to run against Walker.

Democrats who filed are Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, Secretary of State Doug La Follette and state Sen. Kathleen Vinehout.

Gladys Huber is a Republican who is running as a Democrat as part of a state GOP effort to ensure there is a primary.

Arthur Kohl Riggs, a protester who frequently videotapes newsmakers in the Capitol, filed to run as a Republican. Michael Mangan of West Allis also filed as a Republican.

Hariprasad Trivedi filed as an independent.

Four real Democrats and one fake Democrat filed to run against Kleefisch.

Madison firefighter and union leader Mahlon Mitchell filed Tuesday to get on the ballot as a Democrat. Also filing were truck driver Bruce Berman of Marinette, prison guard Dale Paul of Portage and private investigator Ira Robins of Milwaukee.

Isaac Weix, a Republican running as a Democrat to ensure there would be a primary, also filed.

Walker said he doesn't care who he faces in the general election.

"Whoever is on the ballot is secondary to the money that's coming in from the unions out of state," Walker said.

Walker, who began airing ads in November, has been traveling the country raising millions of dollars from out-of-state donors. As of mid-January, he had raised more than $12 million. The next reporting deadline for all candidates is April 30.

— ryman@greenbaypressgazette .com and follow him on Twitter @pressgazetteBIZ.